NE Runner dev site
Sunday’s
Cheyenne CaÌÄ®Õå±on Mountain Race Attracts Top
Athletes
Runners to Vie for Spots on
the World Mountain Team
Colorado Springs, CO —- With a tagline, “Once is not enough,Û¢bCrLf the 2009 Cheyenne
CaÌÄ®Õå±on
Mountain Race presented by Walmart, is sure
to be a challenging yet fun trail running event for novice to elite
participants. Slated for Sunday, July 26, 2009, the event is open to all levels
of competitors, but the promise of four Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team slots
has runners from across the country converging on Colorado Springs this
weekend.
On the women’s side, Christine Lundy, 38, Sausalito, CA,
already on the team ÛÓ her fourth ÛÓ after her win at the USA Mountain
Championships in North Conway, NH, on June 28, will be racing Sunday. Joining
her will be the next eight finishers from North Conway, 2008 team member Brandy Erholtz, 31, Bailey, CO,
four-time team member Laura Haefeli,
41, Del Norte, CO, Kasie Enman, 29,
Huntington, VT, Gina Lucrezi, 26,
Colorado Springs, Megan Lund, 25,
Basalt, CO, Abby Larson, 30, Salt
Lake City, Amber Moran, 30, Arden,
NC, and Trisha Steidl, 32,
Shoreline, WA. Additionally, 2008 team member Megan Kimmel, 29, Silverton, CO, 2006
team member Nicole Hunt, 39, Deer
Lodge, MT, 2007 Junior team member Maria
Dalzot, 21, Morgantown, WV, two-time team member Lisa Goldsmith, 44, Nederland, and
five-time team member Anita Ortiz,
45, Eagle, CO, are also entered.
The top two women finishers
will earn a berth on this year’s mountain team. Should Lundy finish first or
second, the third place finisher does not receive an automatic spot on the team.
The final two spots on the team ÛÓ there are four team members on the World Team
ÛÓ would be decided in the coming weeks by the USATF Mountain Ultra Trail Running
Council.
On the men’s side the field
is wide open. Expected to contend for the two automatic team spots are local
runners Ryan Hafer, 23, Alex Nichols, 24, Daryn Parker, 28, and Daniel Castenada, 24. They will face
competition from two-time team member Shiloh Mielke, 29, Weaverville, NC,
2006 Junior team member Andrew
Benford, 21, Ravenswood, WV, Jason
Delaney, 29, Golden (who bested Nichols at the July 5 Vail HillClimb), Aaron Saft, 31, Fletcher, NC, John Tribbia, 27, Boulder, Bill Fanselow, 42, Golden, and New
Mexico runners Jesse Armijio, 26, Juan Ortega, 22, and Loren Wohletz, 24.
“This is not only going to be
a great race to run, it is also going to be a great spectator event. With a loop
course, there are several times to see the runners on course. What is most
exciting is that the entire women’s mountain team who will compete in Italy this
fall will be in Colorado Springs,Û¢bCrLf said Nancy Hobbs, Executive Director of the
American Trail Running Association.
The course, designed by six-time Mountain Team member Paul Low, starts at
the Stratton Open Space Trailhead in North Cheyenne CaÌÄ®Õå±on, connects with the Gold Camp Path, joins up with the
Chutes, follows the east side of the reservoir, back up Gold Camp Path for the
loop (men run three loops, women and junior men two loops), then back down to
the finish. The race is limited to 200 participants. There are two separate race
starts with the women running an 8 kilometer course at 7:00 a.m. and the men
racing 12 kilometers at 8:30 a.m. (junior men ÛÓ ages 19 and under ÛÓ will run the
8 kilometer route). Runners and spectators should park at the Starsmore
Discovery Center Parking Log.
This first-year event is
presented by WalMart with additional
local support from ERA Shields brokers
Marzolf/Blessing, Champion
Health/Dr. Jeffrey Matthews, Bristol
Brewing, Colorado Running Company,
and Criterium Bike Shop.
National sponsors joining the effort include SportHill and Teva. Registration is available at
www.imathlete.com, in person at Colorado Running Company, 833 N. Tejon
Street, Colorado Springs, or through the mail by downloading an entry form at
www.trailrunner.com. The entry fee is $35 from June 1 ÛÓ July 25 and $40 on
race day ÛÓ if space available.
As mentioned previously,
the event serves as a selection race for the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team
with the top two men and the top two women (must be current USATF members and
USA citizens) earning spots on this year’s team which will compete in
Campodolcino, Italy this September for Team USA. It is the final team selection
race ÛÓ the first being the USA Mountain Running Championships on June 28 in
North Conway, NH where Joseph Gray,
25, Lakewood, WA, Zac Freudenberg,
31, St. Louis, MO, and Matt Byrne,
34, Scranton, PA were named to the team along with Lundy for the women. A prize purse of
$1500 will be awarded (distributed between the top five men and top five women ÛÓ
must be current USATF members and USA citizens) and age group awards for the top
finisher will be presented in 10 year increments. There will be random prize
drawings for all participants and volunteers.
Every participant will
receive a commemorative USA Mountain Running cowbell, post race refreshments,
accurate results, and for those 21 and older ÛÓ a beer certificate from Bristol
Brewing.
Not only is the event a fundraiser for the American Trail
Running Association, but also serves as a fundraiser for the Friends of North
Cheyenne CaÌÄ®Õå±on and Stratton Commons. Individuals may donate, as part
of their registration, to any of these non-profit
organizations.
For more information on the
event visit www.trailrunner.com.
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